Illuminating means for tank type suction cleaners



March 31, 1953 N. c. CUDDEBACK 2,632,912

ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR TANK TYPE SUCTION CLEANERS Filed 001:. 29, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

ATTOHNE Y.

Patented Mar. 31, 1953 :UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR TANK TYP SUCTION CLEANERS "Nelson 0. Cuddeback, Chicago Heights, 111., as-

' signor to The Hoover Oompany, North Canton,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 29, 1948, Serial No; 57,272 I 8 Claims. (01. l--324) 1 This invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to the type of cleaner usually referred to as the tank or canister type in which tool can be applied to only that area which needs cleaning. That is especially significant when the cle'aneris used for cleaning under beds or other dark and inaccessible places.

According to the present invention a light is applied to the body of the cleaner unit in such a position relative to the suction hose connection that the entire area on either or both sides bf the unit is illuminated as the unit is moved from place to place. The light is of sufficient intensity and is so positioned relative to the surface being cleaned that the light will cause particles of dirt and litter to cast exaggerated shadows so that the userwill be immediately informed a to where the suction nozzle should be applied.

Tank cleaners of the cylinder type usually have skids or runners which support the cleaner in a horizontal position on the floor as the cleaning tool or nozzle is manipulated to perform its cleaning function. The suction hose is connected to the front end cap and the rear end cap may be provided with supports whereby the cleaner may be supported on its rear end;

In operating the tanker canister type cleaner the entire unit is usually carried into the room to be cleaned and the casing positioned on the floor on its skids or runners. It has been found convenient to then move the nozzle or hand tool [about over the floor or floor covering being cleaned at one or both sides of the cleaner. When that area is cleaned the cleaner may then be moved to another position by pulling on the hose to move the "casing to a new position. In moving the casing from place to place to a new area it is essential that the operator should know when the cleaner has been moved to a position which has not yet been cleaned.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates the'mounting of lights on eitheno'r both sides of the cleaner immediately above the skids or runners of suficient intensity that the light rays will be directed downwardly and outwardly Cal relative to the cleaner so as to illuminate the entire area accessible to the hand tool on either or both sides of thecleaner body.

Thus, when the cleaner is at rest the light beams will cause dirt or litter to cast exaggerated shadows and inform the user as to the exact spot to apply the suction nozzle. As the cleaner casing is being drawn across the floor in moving it from one general area to another, the area on either side of the cleaner will be illuminated so that the operator will know at once where the cleaner casing should be placed.

More specifically, according to this invention, lamps are positioned in depressions on either or both sides of the cleaner casing immediately above the skids or runners. The lamps preferably extend along the entire length of the cleaner body and are preferably of the fluorescenttype, although other types such as incandescent lamps can also be used.

The tank cleaner of this invention may also be upendedon its rear end with the flexible hose extendingfrom the upper end thereof and with its bottom facing a curtain, chair, or other vertical surface to be cleaned so that the light rays from the lamps in the lower side walls of the cleaner body will be directed forwardly and laterally toward the vertical surface to be cleaned.

It is'preferable to use fluorescent lamps because certain well known germ killing lamps commonly known as sterilamps can be substituted bodily for fluorescent lamps. That is, the same ballast, startin circuit, etc. will operate with certain sizes of germicidal lamps as well as with fluorescent lamps. Thus, if the user uses the light on only one side of the cleaner a germicidal lamp may be used in the other side without modiiication.

Specifically, an object of this invention is to provide a receptacle in each side of a horizontal type cleaner for receiving a lamp, the construction being such that either an illuminating lamp or a germicidal lamp can be received in either receptacle whereby the user may use an illuminating' lamp on both sides or use an illuminating lamp on one side and a germicidal lamp on the other. Preferably, the receptacles are so formed that air circulating through the cleaner maybe circulated directly through the receptacle containing the germicidal lamp.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

type tank cleaner with this invention applied thereto; and

Figure 2 is an end view of the cleaner of Fig. I with a portion of the walls broken away to show one of the receptacles for receiving a lamp.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral I represents the casing of a cylinder type cleaner normally supported in a horizontal position, as shown, by skids or runners 23 secured to the base of the casing Ill in any suitable manner. I

The ends of the casing I0 are closed by a rear end cap I I and a front end cap I which may be attached to the casing II) in any suitable manner. The rear end cap is provided with feet or protuberances 46 which may be used to support the casing It on its rear end as will be explained hereinafter.

A flexible hose I3 may be applied to either the rear end cap I I or the front end cap I5 depending uponwhether the cleaner is to be used for blowing or for suction cieaning; The opening I2 in the rear end cap I I represents the female part of a detachable connection for receiving a cooperating male part attached to the hose I3 when the cleaner is used for blowing. A similaropening is provided in the front end cap It for attaching the hose I3 thereto when the cleaneris used for suction cleaning. The hose I3 is attached to a manually manipulatable wand I! which in turn is swiveled to a-floor tool or nozzle It as is well known in the art.

The interior of the casing Ill is divided into a suction chamber and a pressure chamber by a bulkhead 28. A filter bag 29 is positioned in the suction chamber and a motor fan unit 23 extends into the pressure chamber. The. construction and operation of the foregoing is well known in the art and need not be further explained.

Within the casing Iii, in each lower side corner thereof, and extending over substantially the entire length of the casing are a pair of receptacles or recesses 30 formed by the side walls of the casing Ill and by arcuate shaped reflectors 33. The recesses or receptacles 33 receive tubular lamps 3! which are supported from the base of the casing It by the brackets il. Openings 35 are formed in the walls of the casing Ii! opposite the recesses 36, which openings are closed by closures 3'5 which may be removably attached to the casingwalls in any suitable manner.

'V'Jhile the details of only one of the receptacles 36 is shown in the drawings it is to be understood that there are to be receptacles provided in each lower side corner of the casing III.

The closures 3'! include a plurality of downwardly directed longitudinally extending louvres t3 immediately opposite the tubular lights 3| and a longitudinally extending opening 38 above the louvres MI. The openings 38 are adapted to be closed by a transparent pane 33 which may be of glass or other suitable material. The pane 39 is preferably of a material which will pass light rays but will not pass ultra violet rays.

The receptacles 38 and the reflectors 33 extend along the entire length of the casing Ill including the suction chamber and the pressure chamber. However, opposite the pressure chamber the refiectors are provided with aplurality of openings 42 adapted to be closed by a slidable plate 43 having openings complementary to the openings 42 and adaptedto be aligned therewith when in 7 one position. The inner surface of the plates 43 is made reflective so that when the openings 42 are closed by the plate 43 it will complete the re- 4 fiective surface of the reflectors 33. Knobs 45 extending through the rear end cap I I are connected to the plate 43 so that the openings 42 may be readily opened and closed.

The lamps 3| are preferably of the fluorescent type which of course will require the well known starting equipment which may be housed within the pressure chamber of the housing Ill. The starting circuits, including the ballast and thermostatic switches, being well known need not be described in detail except that either light 3I may be started by push button switches 5| and 52 on the top of the casing Iil. A switch 25 adjacent to the switches 51 and 52 is of any well known type and is for energizing the motor fan unit 26.

In use, the user pulls the cleaner body over a surface to be cleaned by pulling on the hose I3. If the user is right handed the right hand will probably be used to pull the cleaner. It will then be natural for the user to turn to the left and manipulate the floor tool I 6 on the left hand side of the cleaner body. A left handed user would probably pull the cleaner with the left hand and turn to the right and manipulate the hand tool I6 on the right hand side of the cleaner body.

Thus, it may be found in use that in normal operation only the light on the right or left hand side is used. In such a case a germicidal lamp may be substituted for the fluorescent lamp there being certain sizes of germicidal lamps which are usable with the same ballast, switching circuit, etc. as fluorescent lamps.

In case a germicidal lamp is substituted for one of the fluorescent lamps the knob 45 on that side is actuated to open the openings E2 which will permit the air being circulated through the pressure chamber to flow directly through the chamber 39 on that side so that the irradiating effect of the germicidal lamp on the'air will be increased. It is also to be noted that rays from the germicidal lamp will also be directed downwardly onto the floor covering adjacent the cleaner body through the louvres 40. The pane 39 will prevent ultra violet rays from being projected outwardly toward the operator.

It is also possible that a user might wish to have the floor illuminated on both sides of the cleaner such as when cleaning under twin beds with the cleaner positioned between them. In such a case the fluorescent lamps are left in both receptacles '38.

With illuminating lights in the receptacles 30 light rays will be radiated outwardly and downwardly directly onto the floor adjacent the cleaner body through the louvres 40 and also will be reflected outwardly through the pane 39 by means of the reflectors 33 whereby the entire area on that side of the cleaner which is accessible to thenozzle will be illuminated.

The casing It] may be upended onto the feet 46 with the receptacle 33 containing the illuminating light directed toward a curtain, chair, or other vertical surface to be cleaned.

While I have shown but a single embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that this embodiment is to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the specific structure shown and de scribed but to include all equivalent variations thereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

. I claim:

1. A suction cleaner comprising, an elongated in a horizontal position for movement over a surface to be cleaned, a fan in said casing, end caps for closing the ends of said casing, at least one of said end caps being formed with an opening adapted to receive one end of a flexible hose, the other end of which is attached to a manipulatable air tool, means forming a receptacle in each side of said casing between said end caps, and a lamp in each of said receptacles, the outer walls of said receptacles being formed to project light rays from said lamps downwardly and outwardly onto said surface at the sides of said casing over an area accessible to said air tool.

2. A suction cleaner according to claim 1 in which one of said lamps is an illuminating lamp and the other a germicidal lamp.

3. A suction cleaner according to claim 2 in which the inner and outer walls of the receptacle which houses said germicidal lamp are apertured to permit air moved by said fan to flow into said receptacle and over said germicidal lamp.

4. A suction cleaner comprising, an elongated casing, a pair of elongated runners secured to said casing for supporting it in a horizontal position for movement over a surface, a fan in said casing, means for dividing the interior of said casing into a suction chamber and a pressure chamber at opposite ends thereof, an opening formed in at least one end of said casing adapted to receive one end of a flexible hose, the other end of which is connected to a manipulated air tool, means forming a receptacle in said casing immediately above each of said runners and extending in juxtaposition to both of said chambers and an elongated lamp in each of said receptacles, the outer walls of said receptacles being formed to direct rays from said lamps outwardly and downwardly onto said surface.

5. A suction cleaner according to claim 4 in c which one of said lamps is a germicidal lamp and the inner and outer walls of the receptacle containing said germicidal lamp are apertured to communicate with said pressure chamber and with the outside atmosphere.

' 6. A suction cleaner according to claim 5 including valve means for opening and closing the aperture in the inner wall of the receptacle containing said germicidal lamp.

*7. A suction cleaner comprising, an elongated casing, a pair of runners attached to the base of said casing and extending along the bottom edges or" said casing for supporting it for movement over a surface, an arcuate reflector secured interiorly of said casing above each of said runners, said reflectors facing outwardly and extending along the length of said casing, an elongated lamp positioned in front of each of said reflectors, an opening in the walls of said casing in front of said reflectors and lamps, a closure for each of said openings, louvres in said closures located downwardly and outwardly of said lamps and a paned opening above said louvres positioned to pass light reflected from said lamps laterally of said casing.

8. A suction cleaner according to claim '7 in which said panes are constructed to pass visible light rays but not ultra violet rays.

NELSON C. CTJ'DDEBACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,996,934 Siedle Apr. 9, 1935 2,003,085 Kitto May 28, 1935 2,044,830 Carlstedt June 23, 1936 2,148,656 Smellie Feb. 28, 1939 2,155,669 Lofgren Apr. 25, 1939 2,166,863 Frame et al. July 18, 1939 2,208,523 Cullman July 16, 1940 2,242,163 Bargeboer May 13, 1941 2,260,325 Leathers Oct. 28, 1941 2,269,482 Replogle Jan. 13, 1942 2,291,689 Carlson Aug. 4, 1942 2,297,933 Yonkers Oct. 6, 1942 2,335,056 Grison Nov. 23, 1943 2,375,331 Taylor May 8, 1945 

